Sunday, November 30, 2014

Reaching Out

The work day has ended. You're about to
exit the room and head home, when I suddenly ask, “Hey, want to
walk home together?”

You're confused, as I never ask this.
“Are you okay?”

“Yeah, I just....don't want to walk
home alone today.”

“Alright. Let me grab my coat.”

We stroll out of the building. “So,
how are you adjusting so far?”

Tiredly, I reply, “It's okay. It's a
lot, having to switch English groups all the time, plus the sheer
number of students, but I'm getting used to it. Poco a poco, ¿no?”
I say, smiling.

“Do you like Jaén?”

“More than in the beginning, for
sure. There's lots to do here. I haven't visited everything, but
there's time. I'm here for a while.”

“And is there anything you don't
like?”

My pause lasts ages. “The racist
things people say.”

You blink, and stammer “What?” You
weren't expecting that. You thought I'd talk about the crazy drivers,
the strange weather, the hills when walking.

“Yeah, sometimes when I'm on the
street, kids yell '¡China!' But not in a good way. I can tell
when there's hate behind what they're saying. I guess I can't be
surprised,” I reason, my voice and my steps growing weary. “There's
not a lot of us here.”

You're shocked. “Yeah, but that's
rude. No matter if they've seen someone like you before or not,
that's not nice.

“You deserve respect. You're a person
that deserves to be respected.”

I feel a huge burden lift off my
shoulders, and with relief, I smile at you.